Strainer



Sept. 30, 1941. l l A. HOCK 2,257,686 STRAINER Filed Sept. 23,'1958 3Sheets-Sheet l l IN VEN TOR. A Lvl N Hock ATTORNEY.

Sept.l30, 1941. A. HocK 2,257,586

STRAINER Filed Sept. 23, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

A LvlN HocK Ww@ ATTORNEY;

A. HOCK STRAINER Filed Sept. 23, 1938 sept. 3o, 1941. 2,257,686

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALV/N Hochl ATTORNEY).

retain a considerable moving the syrup from Patented Sept. 30, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE STRAINER Alvin Hock, Cincinnati, OhioApplication September 23, 1938, Serial No. 231,400

(Cl. B10-199) 9 Claims.

This inventionrelates to improvements in a mechanism for straining orseparating wort from hops. ln the past, hop strainers have been providedwhich consisted primarily of a perforated basket, 'into which the hopswere discharged to allow the `syrup or wort to drain, but the moist hopilowers or blossoms would pack and thereby prevent the complete drainageof the syrup and resulting in a `loss .because of the retained wort orsyrup. Other hop strainers have taken the form of an elangated screen,relative to which the wet mass was pushed during the drainage, but, likethe basket type of strainer, the hop flowers would pack and portion ofthe wort or syrup, which would be lost. In each of these priorstrainers, considerable Wort and syrup was lost, even though the masswas sparged prior` to the final disposal of the hop, because of thispacking of the hops. 4

One of the principal objects of the present invention, therefore, is theprovision of a hop strainer which is efhcient in operation and whichwill remove a maximum amount of wort and syrup from the mass, leavingonly the hop flowers from which all of the syrup has been drained.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a strainer as aboveidentified, in which the mass is kept-in a state of agitation, ortumbling, thereby preventing the hop flowers or blossoms from packinguntil the syrup or wort is removed therefrom, and in which the said hopflowers or `blossoms can be readily and efficiently sparged. Anotherobject of this invention is the provision of a hop strainer, which,while efficiently rethe brew mass, disposes of the residue, such asthehop owers or blossoms, and the like, so as not to interfere with thesupply of the brew mass to the strainer and disposing of this materialas rapidly as it is presented to the strainer.

`A further object of this invention is the provision of a strainer whichcan be readily and eiiiciently cleaned, thereby reducing to a mini- .mumthe time usually consumed in keeping the machinery used in breweries ina clean and sanitary condition. It should be noted here that facility ofcleaning of any piece of machinery used in a brewery is a very importantconsideration.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readilyunderstood by reference to the following specification when conside'redin connection with the accompanying drawings and 'forming part thereof,and it is to be v,understood that any modifications may be made in theexact structural details therein shown, without departing from orexceeding the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the hop strainer of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the strainer as seen from the left handend of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view, just behind the iront end of thestrainer, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view, taken on line 4 4of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional View, taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the drum strainer, forming a detail ofthe invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of `a portion of the strainer, as seenfrom the inside of the strainer drum. A

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the strainer material, taken on line8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8, taken at right anglesto Fig. 8, on line 9--9 of Fig. 7, and,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through the loadingend of the strainer, taken on lineA I0-I of Fig. 2.

Throughout the several views of the drawings, similar referencecharacters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

The so-called strainer or separator of this inlive barrels, and the sizebeing dependent solely on the size or capacity of the brewery where itis to be employed.

Specifically, and referring to the drawings, the strainer of thisinvention comprises a base frame I5 formed of longitudinal angle ironsI6 and transverse angle irons I1. The transverse angle irons I'I,located at opposite ends of the strainer, are parts of frame ends I8 andI9, each of which include vertical angle irons 20 and 2I and uppertransverse angle iron 22. The vertical angle irons 20 and 2|, and upperhorizontal angle iron 22, are further connected to one another, andbraced by braces 23.

The upper horizontal angle iron 22 of the end frame I8 and I9 isprovided with a pair of roller supports 24 and'25, U-shaped in crosssection, as seen in Fig. 1. Each of these supports 24 and 25, hasjournaled at its upper end a roller 26 adapted to enter grooves 21 and28, formed in end castings 29 and 30, for the drum strainer indicated ingeneral by the reference character 3|. Thisv The circular casting 29, atthe loading end of the strainer, is provided with a plurality of studs-Y 34 projecting outwardly therefrom and which pass through a large gearbe an ordinary spur gear, or, as drawings, a sprocket or chain gear,about which is trained an endless chain 36, see chain 36 is in turntrained about a second gear or pinion 31 secured to the free end of ashaft 38. The shaft 38 may be a motor shaft, or, as illustrated, the nalshaft of a gear box 33 which has its primary shaft connectedv with theshaft of a motor 45.

From the foregoing, it will be kseen that there has been provided aframe supporting an apertured cylinder or strainer which is adapted tobe suitably driven or rotated while being Vsupported on a plurality ofrolls. This cylinder or drum has its front end closed, by the gear 35,which is secured to the grooved casting or roll 29, and has its other ordischarge end open through the roll. o'r cylindrical casting 3U.

The material to. be strained, including the hop flowers orblossoms, asis well known, is cooked or brewed in -a kettle, and this materialdischarged into a delivery pipe or conduit 4|. The delivery pipe orconduit 4| is connectedy with the strainer` pipe or'conduit 42 by meansof a removable coupli'ng `43 This intake pipeor conduit 42 of thestrainer, passes through an aperture or bearing 44, in the gear 35, tothe interior of the strainer drum. Interiorly of the strainer drum,Vvthe intake pipe or conduit 42, is provided with an elbow 45 whichdirects the material being'operated upon against the inner surfaceof thedrum. As seen in Figs. 3V and 10, the discharge end of therintake 42 isdirected downwardly and outwardly'with respectv to the axis of the drum.In this way, and with the drum constantly rotating Vthe materialdischarged is moved awayfrom the point of deliverance as rapidly asdelivery-takes. place.

With reference to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, it will be noted `that the drum hassecured to its inner surface a plurality of ribs, shown as four innumber, and indicated by the reference characters 46, 41, 48 and 49.These ribs are in effect angle irons, each having one arm 50 secured tothe inner surface of the drum. and each having its other arm 5|projecting toward the center of the drum. During rotation of the drum,these arms carry with them the hop flowers or blossoms, and, at the sametime, effect an agitation or tumbling of these blossoms, therebypresenting all sides: of the blossoms to' positions to cause effectivedrainage thereof.` In order to assist in the agitation and tumbling ofth-e blossoms, the said inwardly projecting arms 5| of the ribs areinclined in the direction away from the direction of rotation of thedrum, so as to allow the hop blossoms or flowers to readily roll towardthe center of the drum during its rotation, and not bank or pack upalong side of said ribs and be carriedl to the Vtop `of the drum, as'would be the 35.` This gear 35 may.

illustrated in the case if they were at right angles to the surface ofthe drum. These ribs 45, 41, 43 and 49 are secured to the inner surfaceof the strainer-drum in a spiral form, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6.The effective result as seen in Fig. 6, is that of a quadruple screw,the said spiral formation of the ribs acting as a conveyor screw for thehop flowers or blossoms the intake to the discharge end of thestrainerdrum.

The speed of rotation of the drum and the angle of pitch of the ribswill be geared to the rate of flow of the material through the pipes 4|and 42 to the interior of the drum, so that the hop flowers or blossomsis actuated through the drum at substantially the rate of deliverythere- Fig. 2., This to, so as to prevent packing up of said hopblossoms. or flowers within the interior of the drum.

The wort or syrup; drained and removed from the hop flowers or blossomswithin the strainerdrum, is collected in a tank indicated in general inFig. 1 by the reference character 52, which is located within the mainframe of the machine. Specifically, this tank 52 is provided'at itsopposite ends with a pair of frames each formed of 'an angle iron 53.-One of said angle irons or tank end frames is shown in section in Fig.3, and has portions 54 and 55 upstanding'and parallel with one another,respectively integral with portions 55 and 51, which incline toward oneanother, pyramid fashion, and a central portion 58, for connecting theportions 5B and 51, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The portions 54and 55, of the angle iron 53, have secured to their opposed legs sheetmetal plates 59 and 60, which, respectively, provide the longitudinalsides of the tank 52. These tank sides 59 and 60 extend toV 'a heighthon a line with the axis of the strainerdrum. The remaining legs of theportions 54 and 55. of the angle irons 53, have secured to them, endplates 6| and 52 which form the ends of the tank 52. 'The lower edges ofthe side plates 59, 55, 3| and 32 are secured to the edges ofV a plateB3 which forms the bottom of the tank proper.

The tank frame angle irons 53 are secured at opposite ends to oneanother by longitudinal angle irons B4 and 55 which form in eiect thetop rail of thesides of the tank proper. The upper, central,longitudinal portions 58, of the tank frame angle irons 53, has securedthereto a plate 65 which forms in eiect the top of the machine as awhole, and at the same time forms a support for the driving motor 4|),as seen most clearly in Fig. l. This ktop plate 66, in addition, isprovided, along its longitudinal edges, with hinges 51 and 63, forsecuring thereto hinged lids, whereby access may be had to the interiorof the strainer as a whole.

As seen in Fig. l, there are three lids, 69, 10 and 1|. along each sideof the strainer which may be individually raised in order to gain accesstothe interior of the strainer at either of these points. The end lids69 and 1|, each have one edge, when in closed position, resting on thetank frame angle irons 53, and have their other edges respectively oninner angle iron frames 12 and 13, located intermediate the ends of thetank end frames 53, illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown in this 5, the angleiron frame 12 has portions'correspondingly similar to the portions 55,51 and 53' in contour of the end tank frames 53, as Well as at verticalportions 14 and 15, which are similar to the portions 54 and 55, of saidtank end frames 53. The legs 14 and 15, of the frame 12,

in actuating the same from extend to the bottom of the tank top angleirons 64 and 65, and are respectively secured to one another. Theseframes 12 and 13, as seen in Fig. 1, form the supports for the ends ofthe intermediate lid 10. In order to strengthen the free ends of saidlids, 69, and 1|, they are each provided, throughout their length, witha similar angle iron 16, and to facilitate the raising and lowering ofthe lids, they are each `provided with a similar handle 11. The endportions of the strainer as a whole, above the ends 6| and 62 of thetank proper, are closed by substantially triangular shaped end plates 18and 19, which are secured to one leg of the portions 56, 51 and 58, ofthe tank end frames 53. The contacting edges 'ofthe plates 18 and 19,with plates 6| and 62 respectively, may be joined by welding or anexternal reinforcing strap 80 may be supplied and secured to this joint.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that the syrup or wort, removedfrom the brewed mass supplied to the screen drum, is collected in asuitable tank, and that the said screen drum rotates in a substantiallyclosed tank. The major portion of the wort or the brewed mass as it ispassing through the first third of the screen drum, or that portion ofthe screen drum located immediately below the screen lids 69. This wortor syrup has a certain aii'nity for the hop blossoms or flowers, and, inorder to completely remove the said syrup, it should be washed orsparged off. In order to effect this sparging, a pipe 8|, connected witha water source, is projected into the open end of the screen drum, andthe sparging takes place '4 after-passing the' primary filteringstation. For this reason, and as seen in Fig. l, the sparging pipe 8|stops at approximately the end of the primary'ltering station of thescreened drum, 'and the portion of the sparging pipe 8| lying withinthis'zone of the screen drum is provided with a series of smallapertures 82 to provide jets or streams of water for the hop owers orblossoms while they are passing this portion of the screen drum. rIhesyrup removed from the i hop `flowers or blossoms by this collected bythe tank'52. The portion of the screen drum beyond the sparging stationis ,utilized for the nal draining of the syrup from `the brewed materialpassing` therethrough. In order to keep the operator advised of thecontent and height of the syrup within the drum 52, a gauge glass 83 isprovided, having its opposite ends connected respectively with couplings84 and 85,` which, in turn, have communication with the interior of thetank'. In order to protect the gauge glass, a suitable perforated guard,86, as is usual practice, may be provided therearound. Any suitableopening the tank for discharging the syrup therefrom. Such a dischargearrangement being shown as a hanged outlet pipe 81.

Itis believed that the operation of this strainer asa whole is wellunderstood from the foregoing description. The brewed mass beingdelivered to the strainer by way of pipes 4| and 42 to the strainer-drumwhich is being rotated and turnbling this mass, and allowing the syrupor wort to separate therefrom and, at the same time, project the solidparticles of the brewed mass through the strainer to the discharge end.As the mass is progressing through the strainer'- drum, it is sparged toeffect the complete removal of the syrup or wort therefrom. As is wellknown, this brewed mass has just left spraying is again syrup will beremoved from may be provided through the boiling kettle, and is,therefore, quite hot and emitting considerable steam. In order todispose of said steam, the top plate G8 of the strainer is provided,substantially centrally of its length, with an outlet 88, connected by asuitable pipe or the like, 89, with a stack or other vent. Since thesparging water is cooler than the brewed mass passing through the screendrum, the greatest steam will emanate at the sparging station, which, asillustrated in the drawings, is immediately below the outlet 88, and thediscomture resulting from this steam is thereby eifectively eliminated.The solid matter of the brewed mass is ejected from the end of thescreen drum either directly onto'the oor adjacent the strainer, or intoa receptacle (not shown) placed there to receive the same and has aconsiderable amount of steam being emitted therefrom, and there has beenplaced above this discharge end of the strainer, a hood 99, connected bya branch conduit 9| with conduit or pipe 89 and stack. By thisarrangement, the steam around the strainer is effectively held at aminimum.

As was noted above,`it is necessary to frequently clean and scour theinterior surfaces of the screen drum and tank, as well as the exteriorsurface of the screen drum. In order to obtain access to the interior ofthe screen drum, use is made of the open discharge end by inserting theusual scouring and cleaning brushes, or the like, and substantiallycleaning the rear half of the screen drum, while, in order to clean thefront half of the screen drum, the nuts on the studs 34 are removed topermit displacement of the gear 35 after having rst uncoupled thecoupling 43, so that the intake pipe 42 is removed with the gear'35. Theexterior of the screen drum 3| is of course cleaned through the raisingof the lids 69, 10 and 1|. The space provided between the periphery ofthe screen drum and edge of the tank proper is utilized to permit theinsertion of cleaning and scouring brushes and brooms in order to cleanthe inner surfaces of the tank 52. To assist in the cleaning of theexterior of the screen drum and interior of theA tank, the main endbraces I8 and I9 are each provided, on opposite sides thereof, withsimilar brackets 92 and walks 93 and 94.

From lthe foregoing, it will now be appreciated that there has beenprovided a hop strainer, for straining or removing wort or syrup from abrewed mass, and which strainer will efficiently operate and otherwiseaccomplish the objects initially set forth above.

What is claimeclis:

1. In a mechanism of the class described-the combination of a tankhaving a` bottom, ends, sides and top, frame members exteriorly of thetank and adjacent the ends thereof, a perforated cylinder extendinglongitudinally of the tank and located intermediate the bottom and topthereof, end castings for said cylinder each having an screen drum, andmeans associated with said cylinder extending Y trackway for supportingscreen drum for effecting the movementof the material through the drumfrom the closed end to the discharge end thereof.

v 2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving a bottom, ends, sides, and top, frame members exteriorly of thetank and adjacent the ends thereof, a perforated cylinder extendinglongitudinally of the tank and located intermediate the bottom and topthereof, sides, and top, frame. members exteriorly of the end castingsfor said cylinder each having an annular trackway, means on the exteriorframe members engaging the end castings annular trackway for supportingthe drum for rotation, removable means for closing one end of the screendrum and including the driven member of a drum rotating transmission,means including a motion transmitting train for rotating the screendrum, means for supplying material tothe interior of the drum andoperable through the screen drum closure member, said drum having itsother end open and forming the discharge foi` the material passingthrough the screen drum, means associated with said screen drum foreffecting the movement of the material through the drum lfrom the closedend to the discharge end thereof, and means for Vsparging'the materialwithin the screen drum at a point during its movement therethrough.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving a bottom, ends, sides and top, frame members exteriorly of thetank and adjacent the ends thereof, a perforated longitudinally of thetank and located intermediate the bottom and top thereof, end castingsforV said cylinder each having an annular trackway, means on theexterior frame members engaging the end castings annular the drum forrotation, removable means for closing one end of the screen drum andincluding the driven member of a drum rotating transmission, meansincluding a motion transmitting train for rotating the screen drum,means for supplying material to the interior of the drum and operablethrough the screen drum closure member, said `drum having its other endopen and forming the discharge for the material passing through thescreen drum, means associated with said screen drum for effecting themovement of the material through the drum from the closed end to thedischarge end thereof, and a sparging pipe extending through the openend of the screen `drum to the interior thereof for sparging thematerial during its movement through the screen drum from the closed tothe open end thereof. y Y

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a frame, atank within said frame including a bottom, upstanding ends and sides,and a top, a portion of which is fiat with adjacent portions on eachside thereof inclined toward the tank sides and hinged to the flat topportion whereby the inclined top portions may be` raised to permitaccess to the inside of the tank, a screen drum within the tank adjacentthe top portion whereby the exterior of the drum and interior of thetank are accessible through the raised inclined top portions of thetank, end castings at the ends of `the screen drum projecting throughthe tank ends and having annular trackways, peripheral supportingrollers beyond the tank for supporting the screen drum end castings,removable closure means at one en-d of the screen drum, removable topermit access to the interior of the screen drum, and means for rotatingthe screen drum. Y A l 5. In a mechanism oi the class described, thecombination of a frame, a tank within said frame including a bottom,upstanding endsand sides, and a top, a portion of which is flat withVadjacent portions on each side thereof inclined toward the tank sidesand hinged to the flat top portion whereby the inclined top portions maybe raised to permit access to the inside of the tank, a screen drumwithin the tank adjacent the top portion wherebythe exterior of the drumand interior of the tank are accessible through the raised inclined topportions of the tank,v end.

castings at the ends of the screen drum projecting through thetank endsand having annular trackways, peripheral supporting rollers be' yond thetank for supporting the screen drum and castings, removable closuremeans at one end of the screen drum, removable to permit access to theinterior of the screen drum, means for rotating the screen drum, meansfor supplying material to the interior of the screen drum to a pointadjacent the closure means, said screen drum having its other end openfor discharge purposes, and ribs secured to the interior of the screendrum projecting toward the center thereof and extending spirally axiallyof the drum for feeding material from the closed end of the drum to theopen end thereof. Y

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a frame, atank within said frame including a bottom, upstanding ends and sides,and a top, a portion of which is flat with adjacent portions on eachside thereof inclined toward the tank sides and hinged to the at topportion whereby the inclined top portions maybe raised to permit accessto the inside of the tank, a screen drum within the tank adjacent thetop portion whereby the exterior vof the drum and interior of the tankare accessible through the raised inclined top portions of the tank, endcastings atthe ends of the screen drum projecting through the tank endsand having annular trackways, a peripheral supporting rollers beyond thetank for supporting the screen drum and castings, removable closuremeans at one end of the screen drum, removable to permit access to theinterior `of the screen drum, means forl rotating the screen drum, meansfor supplying material to the interior of the screen drum to a pointadjacent the closure means, said screen drum having its other end openfor -discharge purposes, and ribs secured to the interior of the screendrum projecting toward the center thereof and extending spirally axiallyof the drum for feeding material from the closed end of the drum to theopen end thereof, and a sparging pipe extending into the screen 'drumyfor sparging the material at a point during its movement from the closedto the open ends of the screen drum.

7. In a mechanism of the `class described the combination of acompletely enclosing tank, including sides and top, a perforated screendrum within the` tank, having one end open and the other closedsupporting castings ,at the opposite ends of said drum each having anannular supporting trackway and projecting through and beyond the tanksides, and means for engaging the castings annular trackways andsupporting the drum for rotation, and said closed end of the drum andthe tank top being displaceable wherebyaccess to the interior of thedrum may be had from each end thereof and whereby access to the exteriorof the `drum and to the interior o1' the tank may be had through thetank top.

a completely enclosing tank, including sides and top,

interior of the drum.

9. In a mechanism of the class described the a completely enclosingtank, in-

combination of cluding sides and top, a perforated screen drum

